§ 20. Mr. Marquandasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, during international discussions concerning a European Free Trade Area, he will seek 526 to secure general recognition that edible gelatine is a food product.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. The tariff arrangements for the European Free Trade Area will be based on the Brussels Nomenclature, and the experts who drafted this Nomenclature classified all types of gelatine along with chemicals and allied products.
§ Mr. MarquandIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that all the materials from which edible gelatine is made are included already within Chapters 1 to 24 and that edible gelatine, which is undoubtedly a food product, the only true one, is not included in Chapters 1 to 24? As it is so simple and does not include any other product, would not the right hon. Gentleman try to get an agreement at O.E.E.C. or elsewhere to include this one product?
§ Sir D. EcclesNo. Sir. I am told that the situation is not simple. Gelatine and glue are substantially the same thing. They are used very largely for industrial purposes, particularly in the plastics industry. The distinction the right hon. Gentleman asks for would be rather difficult to make.
§ Mr. MarquandIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this product is made in two factories only in this country, with the aid of assistance under the Development Areas scheme, that it is produced entirely from bones from this country or imported from India, and is a valuable Commonwealth trade? Ought he not at least to make one effort to see if he can help it under these new arrangements?
§ Sir D. EcclesMy information is that the industry in this country is not at all unanimous about this and that some of them would like to go into the Free Trade Area.